Posted on 03/27/2005 2:37:03 AM PST by mal
A couple of decades back, north of the border, it was discovered that some overzealous types in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had been surreptitiously burning down the barns of Quebec separatists. The prime minister, Pierre Trudeau, shrugged off the controversy and blithely remarked that, if people were so upset by the Mounties illegally burning down barns, perhaps he'd make the burning of barns by Mounties legal. As the columnist George Jonas commented
(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...
Well there is at least one aspect of Greer's behavior that is clearly illegal, even under Florida law, and that is his refusal of the parent's request to give her food and water by mouth! The statute that Greer is using to remove Terri's feeding tube was ammended in 1999 to add to the legal definition of life prolonging procedures the words: "INCLUDING ARTIFICIALLY PROVIDED SUSTENENCE AND HYDRATION, WHICH SUSTAINS, RESTORES, OR SUPPLANTS A SPONTANEOUS VITAL FUNCTION".
The key words here are "ARTIFICIALLY PROVIDED." This part of the law authorizes Greer to remove the feeding tube but in no way authorizes him to stop Terri's parents or caregivers from giving her food and water NATURALLY by mouth! Based on the reports of the nurses who said she has swallowed jello and water and the doctor who examined her for the parents there is reason to believe she could sustain her life by taking food and water by mouth. Only Michael and Greer's opposition has prevented her being given this opportunity.
Unless there is something in the law that has not yet come to light, and I have trouble believing any legislature has given a judge the power to stop a person from being fed by mouth, then this order is clearly illegal and an abomination as well as an eggregious abuse of judicial authority but it has apparantly and incredibly gone unchallenged.
FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, AND FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC, SOMEONE CHALLENGE THIS JUDICIAL POWER GRAB AND HAND GREER HIS FIRST DEFEAT AND GIVE TERRI SOME CHANCE!!! JEB BUSH KEEPS SAYING HE MUST FOLLOW THE LAW. HOW ABOUT THIS LAW?
I generally agree with Steyn.
Not this time.
The court made a finding of fact that Teri is PVS. That may or may not have been accurate, medically speaking.
However, once that finding has been made, under Florida law the rest follows perfectly naturally.
Her husband is designated as her next of kin. As such, he has the legal right to make medical decisions for her.
With the possible exception of the finding of fact as to her medical condition, from what I can see the courts were just implementing Florida law.
If you don't like the way that law works out, change it. Don't whine because the judges didn't overrule the law.
You're so right. Alot of people raise mentally disabled children right through their lives. After the parents pass on that often becomes a responibilty the siblings take on.Are we to assume that once these handicapped children turn 21 its legal for the parents to starve them?
Mark Steyn certainly has a way to put things in a clear light. Also from the article,
"There seems to be a genuine dispute about her condition -- between those on her husband's side, who say she has ''no consciousness,'' and those on her parents' side, who say she is capable of basic, childlike reactions. If the latter are correct, ending her life is an act of murder. If the former are correct, what difference does it make? If she feels nothing -- if there's no there there -- she has no misery to be put out of. That being so, why not err in favor of the non-irreversible option?"
We as a nation have no moral standing in the world after this. Whats truly amazing is the lambasting we took over panties on terrorist heads but nobody is taking us to task on this except the lonely voice of the Vatican.
Our nation's soldiers were prosecuted for violating the rights of Iraqis - our judges are untouchable?
I understand your point, but aren't the facts somewhat in question regardless of whether the courts are relying on certain medical authorities? Kinda like garbage in, garbage out?
The Rule of Terri's Case Strikes Again. -2004- Judge Greer's crimes
MICHAEL SCHIAVO'S lies and contradictory testimony in easy to read format
Exd 20:13
Deu 5:17
If someone would sneak into Terri's room and put a bullet in her head to end her misery, would they be charged with murder???
Would that charge of murder be brought against that 'someone' by the Florida State law enforcers?
Why then, isn't Greer being charged with attempted murder?
I believe I noted there are valid questions about the accuracy of the finding of fact that she is in PSV.
The Mosaic Law is not incorporated into either the Florida or US law codes.
If you think it should be, get a movement started to make it so.
Don't criticize a judge for applying the law as it stands rather than making up his own.
As an American, I shudder at the thought that someone can be court-ordered to be starved to death in the face of so little evidence to one end or another.
We are all to be judged as a society based on our actions as a people.
I have now come to fear that judgement and righteously so.
An important point! Many people are terrified of disability, and think they'd rather be dead, in theory. They often find they'd rather be alive, when faced with the situation in reality.
It's not, I believe, that the fear of death is so overwhelming that any life is preferable, but rather that the fear of disability has been tremendously exaggerated.
Our culture holds that a "meaningful life" is one that is productive, and that "dignity" means autonomy. The disabled and those who work with them remind us that these ideas are false.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Don't criticize those who speak up - as you forget to read the entire post if it shows that you are incorrrect.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
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